School History 1927

Introduction

In 1927 the World's population was calculated to have reached two billion and Adolf Hitler held his first National Socialist Party meeting in Berlin to the chants of 'Heil Hitler'. This year was also to see the first holiday camps opened in England by Billy Butlin, a Canadian who had come to Britain in 1921, and also the first Proms concerts sponsored by the BBC under Sir Henry Wood. Laurel and Hardy managed to make fourteen films during these twelve months, and at the beginning of the year, after several previously unsuccessful efforts, Captain Malcolm Campbell achieved a new world speed record of 174 mph in his 450 hp motor car Bluebird on Pendine Sands, Carmarthen. Pope Pius XI and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Randall Thomas Davidson were the leaders of their respective faiths in 1927, and King George V and Queen Mary were continuing their reign over the United Kingdom and her Dominions. Contrasting with the influence of these important individuals was the London staging on January 15th 1927 of the national championships for British players of the mouth organ. The winner is not listed in the record of this event.

At the school, the new Assembly Hall and adjacent cloakrooms were nearing completion, ready for the official June opening. The Head's house was almost ready for occupation at a final cost of £1,372/ 8s/ 1d and the new Science rooms and Woodwork and Metalwork facilities were already in use. In view of the increased number of pupils on the roll, another House was formed, and given the name Guest, in honour of the local MP, Mr. John Guest.

The Holgate Endowment

In Hemsworth the resentment about the transfer to Barnsley forty-four years previously of Archbishop Holgate's fund (established for Hemsworth's benefit in 1546), rumbled on throughout 1927. The subject dominated the first Governors' meeting of the year in January, and was introduced by Mr. Jenkinson, who would no doubt be well aware of the future benefits to his school were the return of the fund to be made. He drew the Governors' attention to the speech of the Bishop of Wakefield at the school's Speech Day the previous November in which he advised that, "no stone should be left unturned to get the coat of arms back from Barnsley to Hemsworth". Interestingly, this part of the Bishop's speech was omitted from the local newspaper's report of the ceremony. Mr. Jenkinson enquired whether anything positive had been done by the Governors towards this end. The Chairman, Ald. Price, responded by saying that he had been appointed to represent the West Riding County Committee on the Holgate Trust, which administered the funds, but had not yet attended a meeting. During the previous week the County Committee had discussed a number of endowments, and they were endeavouring to get the Board of Education in London to take an interest in the matter, with a view to getting some of the endowments transferred to the County authorities, who could best administer the funds to the areas where they applied. The County Committee felt it would not be an easy matter to reclaim the endowment from Barnsley, but had decided to get involved because they felt it should be administered for the benefit of the parishes for which it was originally left. So far as the coat of arms was concerned, it was felt that if Hemsworth were to be awarded the endowment, the coat of arms would automatically follow. On a more cautious note, Ald. Price warned that Dr. Baillie, the vice-Chancellor of Leeds University had expressed the view that Hemsworth would have great difficulty in getting the endowment back. Coun. J. Peckett remarked that he remembered the time when the endowment was taken away from Hemsworth. (the late 1880's). There was practically no interest taken in higher education in those days, but now that things had altered, he felt that the original endowment should be returned to serve its original purpose in the district. He urged that a recommendation to this effect be forwarded to the Holgate Trustees. Coun. Potts seconded, and the resolution was carried. It would appear that Ald. Price had a foot in both camps, and a realistic notion that complete success was unlikely. 

 

A Reminder

The attention of the County Authorities was once again drawn by the Governors to the need for providing extra accommodation without delay, in view of the increasing number of students. Mr. Jenkinson estimated that by September 1927 there would be 360 students at the school, and the present premises did not have a sufficient capacity for them all.

At the same Governor's meeting, Mr. Jenkinson suggested that a policy should be adopted whereby there should be no admission of students to the school other than at the beginning of each term, except by special permission of the Governors. Whereas in former times, there was no impedance to any prospective pupils, with this proposal it was clear that a more measured attitude to increasing the numbers was being pursued.

Back in the Black

After the upset of November 1925, when the Dinner Fund accounts showed a loss, the new measures adopted to prevent a recurrence of this proved so successful that in February 1927 there was a credit balance of £104, and the question of revising the charges for meals was to be considered at a future meeting.

More Tennis Anyone?

A request to the County Council was made by the Governors early in 1927 for the provision of two grass tennis courts near the school hockey field. They also accepted a scheme for a playing ground with hard tennis courts on the ground which was at that time used as a kitchen garden, and known to later pupils at the school as the area upon which the Dining Hall and the New Block were built. 

(a) The Head's First Secretary, (b) A Male Specialist, (c) Worries About Water

(a) In March 1927, one of the older pupils of the school, Richard White, was appointed secretary, at £39 a year. It is not known whether Mr. Jenkinson's ambitious request of November 1925 for a secretary who could also teach elementary subjects was fulfilled.

(b) At the March Governor's meeting it was decided to appoint a male specialist to teach physical drill two days a week.

(c) In view of the likelihood of a curtailed supply of water to the school, steps had to be taken to arrange for the testing of the flow and capacity of the well in the quarry garden. The County Architect was authorised, should the tests be satisfactory, to install a pump and provide an additional water tank. 

The Head's House

The first recorded mention of a proposed residence for the Headmaster in the school grounds was made in September 1922 by Ald. G. Price, the chairman of the Governors. After four years of plans, refusals, re-applications, delays, shortage of money and some prevarication, it was finally built in 1927 at a cost of £1,372/ 8s/ 1d which was not too far away from the original 1925 estimate of £1300 given by the builder, Messrs. Gregory and Sons of Castleford. 

Old Girls' and Boys' Dance and Social

A Springtime event on April 1st was enjoyed by more than 70 persons at the school on that Friday night. This was the first time they had chosen a different season for the gathering, as the two previous meetings had been held at Christmas time. 

(a) The May Elections, (b) Dinner Fund Profit, (c). The opening of the new Assembly Hall

(a) The May Elections
The usual pattern of events concerning the annual re-election of the serving Governors and the appointment of new Governors took place in May 1927. County Alderman G. Price, J.P. was unanimously re-elected chairman on the motion of Mr. J. Potts, seconded by Jasper Smith. Mr. Potts declared that it was due to the interest and influence of Alderman Price that the school had developed so well. In reply, Ald. Price assured the Governors that he would continue to do all in his power for the good of the school and the students. Mrs. Schorah was re-elected vice-chairman, and then a cordial welcome was extended to Mrs. Knee, a newly-appointed representative of the Hemsworth Urban Council. Every male member of the Governing Board was appointed to a Grounds Sub-Committee.

(b) Dinner Fund Profit
The Headmaster reported yet another balance in hand of £160 9s 11d for the Dinner Fund at the close of the Spring Term. No further discussions on the reduction of the price of meals took place.

(c) The opening of the new Assembly Hall
It was decided to officially open the new Assembly Hall on Wednesday, June 1st 1927 and to invite Dr. Baillie, Vice-Chancellor of Leeds University, to give an address. The chairman of the Governors would then perform the opening ceremony. It would appear from this advertisement that Dr. Baillie was unable to accept the invitation, and Alderman Hardaker J.P. stepped in as his replacement. 

Definitely Not!

In May the Secretary of the Archbishop Holgate Foundation replied to the Governors' representations of January concerning the re-transference of the Trust to Hemsworth. He stated that his Governors could take no part in the proposals. This was a short and not so sweet response which sounded quite final.